Visual disk-capacity indicator for disk recording systems

Abstract

A visual disk-capacity indicator for indicating to a user an approximate amount of disk space available for recording data on a floppy disk is located proximate a peripheral edge of a cartridge housing the floppy disk. The visual disk-capacity indicator includes a transparent window that provides visual access to an indicator needle. The window includes indicia showing various capacity levels ranging from empty to full. The indicator needle has a first end slidably engaged with a first guide rail and a second end slidably engaged with a second guide rail to maintain a longitudinal axis of the indicator needle in a parallel relation with the indicia. An access opening at the peripheral edge of the cartridge proximate the visual disk-capacity indicator allows a small external arm to enter the cartridge to adjust the indicator needle. The indicator needle may also be adjusted by magnetic member.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A visual disk-capacity indicator for a cartridge and a disk recording medium used in a disk recording system, the disk-capacity indicator comprising: a transparent window formed in the cartridge containing the disk recording medium;   indicia located on the window and representing capacity levels of the disk recording medium ranging from empty to full;   a longitudinal guide rail attached to the cartridge; and   an indicator needle for indicating an approximate amount of disk space available on the recording medium, the indicator needle being visible through the window and slidably engaged with the longitudinal guide rail, wherein the indicator needle is arranged to have a longitudinal axis thereof substantially parallel with the indicia.   
     
     
       2. A floppy disk cartridge, comprising: a rigid housing for containing a floppy disk recording medium therein;   a cover plate located at a peripheral edge of the housing for selectively covering an aperture formed in the housing and providing access to a portion of the recording medium contained in the housing, the cover plate being slidable with respect to the housing;   a spring mechanism for biasing the cover plate to a normally closed position covering the aperture formed in the housing, the spring mechanism located in the housing on a side of the cover plate and proximate the peripheral edge whereat the cover plate is located;   a visual disk-capacity indicator for indicating an approximate amount of disk space available for recording data on the recording medium, the disk-capacity indicator located in the housing on a side of the cover plate opposite to the spring mechanism and proximate the peripheral edge whereat the cover plate is located, the disk-capacity indicator being visible through a transparent window in the housing for viewing an indicator needle positioned to indicate an approximate amount of disk space available for recording on the recording medium; and   an access opening located proximate the disk-capacity indicator at the peripheral edge of the housing whereat the cover plate is located for providing access to position the indicator needle.   
     
     
       3. A floppy disk cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the indicator needle of the disk-capacity indicator contains a ferromagnetic material so that the indicator needle is positionable using an electromagnetic device. 
     
     
       4. A floppy disk cartridge, comprising: a rigid housing for containing a floppy disk recording medium therein;   a cover plate located at a peripheral edge of the housing for selectively covering an aperture formed in the housing and providing access to a portion of the recording medium contained in the housing, the cover plate being slidable with respect to the housing;   a spring mechanism for biasing the cover plate to a normally closed position covering the aperture formed in the housing, the spring mechanism located in the housing on a side of the cover plate and proximate the peripheral edge whereat the cover plate is located; and   a visual disk-capacity indicator for indicating an approximate amount of disk space available for recording data on the recording medium, the disk-capacity indicator located in the housing on a side of the cover plate opposite to the spring mechanism and proximate the peripheral edge whereat the cover plate is located, the disk-capacity indicator being visible through a transparent window in the housing for viewing an indicator needle positioned to indicate an approximate amount of disk space available for recording on the recording medium, wherein the visual disk-capacity indicator comprises: a first guide rail slidably engaged with a first end of the indicator needle;   a second guide rail slidably engaged with a second end of the indicator needle; and   a lint-free cloth gently contacting the indicator needle for providing friction to prevent the indicator needle from arbitrarily sliding along the first and second guide rails.     
     
     
       5. A method for indicating disk capacity on a visual disk-capacity indicator of a floppy disk, the method comprising the steps of: recording data on or erasing data from the floppy disk; and   moving an indicator needle of a visual disk-capacity indicator of the floppy disk to a position that reflects an approximate amount of disk space available for recording on the floppy disk by engaging the indicator needle with an external arm and laterally sliding the indicator needle along a longitudinal guide rail to the position that reflects the approximate amount of disk space available.   
     
     
       6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the indicator needle contains a ferromagnetic material, and the step of moving includes engaging the indicator needle with an electromagnetic device to magnetically move the indicator needle to the position that reflects the approximate amount of disk space available.